Detroit, Michigan, and Tucson, Arizona, offer contrasting lifestyle options for potential newcomers and tourists. Detroit, once an industrial powerhouse, is known for its auto industry and music culture. Tucson, on the other hand, provides a sun-soaked atmosphere with an excellent climate for outdoor activities and a rich Native American heritage. The following comparison will help you analyze the critical factors you should consider when comparing these cities on crime & safety, climate, cost of living, etc.
Distance between
Detroit, MI and
Tucson, AZ : 1,672.4 miles
Detroit's population is larger by 16%. Its population has decreased by 318,806 people (33.5%) since 2000. The population of Tucson has grown by 56,543 people (11.6%) during that time.
The crime rate in Detroit is relatively higher than in Tucson. According to the FBI's 2019 report, Detroit's violent crime rate was considerably above the national average. Tucson's crime rate, while also above the national average, is lower than Detroit. However, both cities invest heavily in public safety measures, and crime rates vary by neighborhood. It's always recommended to research specific neighborhoods when considering safety.
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
Sex Offenders
According to our data, there are 3,462 registered sex offenders living in Detroit and 1,389 registered sex offenders living in . The ratio of residents to sex offenders in Detroit is 194 to 1; the ratio in Tucson is 382 to 1. The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents is larger in Detroit than in Tucson.
Cost of Living
Roughly, the cost of living is lower in Detroit than in Tucson. This is primarily owing to the housing cost in Detroit, which is considerably lower than Tucson. The cost of goods and services, utilities, transport, and healthcare are also generally cheaper in Detroit.
Income Tax
Michigan levies a flat income tax of 4.25%, whereas Arizona's income tax rates range from 2.59% to 4.5%, based on income levels.
Property Tax
Property taxes in Detroit tend to be higher than in Tucson. It's also notable that Michigan has a higher property tax rate compared to Arizona.
Sales Tax
The combined sales tax rate for Tucson is 8.7%, which is higher than Detroit's combined rate of 6%.
Income
Type
Detroit
Tucson
Estimated median household income
$36,140
$50,306
Estimated per capita income
$22,122
$27,821
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
94.1
90.1
If you make $50,000 in Tucson, you will have to make $52,220 in Detroit to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Detroit is located along the Detroit River, with the Great Lakes nearby, offering recreational opportunities. Tucson is surrounded by several mountain ranges, making it great for hiking, biking and other outdoor activities.
Detroit is home to reputed educational institutions like Wayne State University and the University of Detroit Mercy. Tucson houses the University of Arizona, a top public research university. Both cities have schools that are rated above average, but it's worthwhile to research specific school districts.
Detroit is known for its automotive industry, with General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler being major employers. The healthcare sector also plays a significant role in Detroit's economy. Tucson's economy is diverse, with employment sectors spanning from education and healthcare to aerospace and defense. Raytheon Missile Systems and the University of Arizona are significant contributors to Tucson's economy.
Biggest Employers
In Detroit, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, and the Ford Motor Company are the largest employers. The University of Arizona and Raytheon Missile Systems employ the most people in Tucson.
There were 10 building permits issued in Detroit in 2012 (8 less than in 2011) compared to 1,134 building permits issued in Tucson in 2012 (832 more than in 2011).
In Detroit (Wayne County), 73.1% voted for Democrats and 26.2% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Tucson (Pima County), 52.7% voted for Democrats and 45.7% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Detroit
Tucson
Detroit
Tucson
Detroit
Tucson
2020
68.6%
58.4%
30.4%
39.8%
1.0%
1.7%
2016
66.6%
53.3%
29.4%
39.7%
4.0%
7.0%
2012
73.1%
52.7%
26.2%
45.7%
0.6%
1.6%
2008
74.4%
52.4%
24.7%
46.3%
0.9%
1.4%
2004
69.7%
52.7%
29.9%
46.7%
0.4%
0.6%
2000
69.1%
51.4%
29.1%
43.3%
1.8%
5.3%
1996
69.0%
52.2%
24.0%
39.4%
7.0%
8.5%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Detroit
Tucson
Detroit
Tucson
CATHOLIC CHURCH
16.3%
20.8%
11.2%
7.9%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
3.7%
0.0%
2.9%
0.2%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
1.5%
0.0%
2.4%
0.3%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
1.2%
0.4%
3.9%
1.4%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.7%
0.9%
2.8%
2.5%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
0.4%
0.8%
2.5%
1.4%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.4%
0.3%
1.4%
1.9%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
0.4%
2.3%
3.2%
10.4%
Weather
Tucson's weather typically entails hot, arid summers and mild winters. The city gets an average of over 350 sunny days a year, which makes it a paradise for those who love heat and sunshine. Detroit, on the other hand, has a variable climate characterized by cold, snowy winters, and warm to hot summers. Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year.
Weather and climate
Type
Detroit
Tucson
Temperature - Average
50°F
70°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
75.3%
38.6%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
33%
46%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
86%
58%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
53%
12%
Precipitation - Yearly average
33.6 in
12 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
86.5 in
2 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
12.7%
32.3%
Sunshine amount - Average
56.8%
92.8%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
38%
15%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
69%
94%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
31%
79%
Wind speed - Average
10.2 mph
8.3 mph
Average climate in Detroit, Michigan
Average climate in Tucson, Arizona
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Detroit
Tucson
Detroit
Tucson
Detroit
Tucson
Detroit
Tucson
Detroit
Tucson
Detroit
Tucson
Detroit
Tucson
2018
90
87
0.44
0.19
12.9
8.3
25.8
32.0
N/A
N/A
29.9
N/A
10.1
5.5
1.1
0.1
2017
87
73
0.56
0.18
12.7
8.4
20.9
31.7
N/A
N/A
32.2
N/A
10.1
7.1
1.3
0.1
2016
86
68
0.47
0.21
13.2
7.9
22.0
29.7
N/A
N/A
25.3
N/A
10.9
4.5
0.8
0.1
2015
95
62
0.49
0.21
14.8
8.7
26.5
29.7
N/A
N/A
25.4
N/A
11.9
5.1
1.2
0.2
2014
95
74
0.48
0.19
14.2
10.0
24.2
28.8
N/A
N/A
28.0
N/A
12.0
5.6
1.7
0.2
2013
80
94
0.53
0.17
14.4
10.4
24.5
30.4
N/A
N/A
30.9
N/A
11.0
6.8
1.3
0.2
2012
99
73
0.49
0.20
14.6
11.8
25.7
30.0
N/A
N/A
31.2
N/A
6.6
5.6
1.7
0.2
2011
94
81
0.32
0.22
12.9
11.9
24.3
31.0
N/A
N/A
29.7
N/A
6.5
5.8
1.6
0.3
2010
96
68
0.28
0.29
11.8
10.8
24.7
30.5
0.006
N/A
25.5
N/A
12.1
N/A
1.6
0.5
2009
68
82
0.27
0.25
12.7
11.2
23.4
29.2
N/A
N/A
31.9
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.9
0.5
2008
67
81
0.27
0.29
12.8
12.2
N/A
29.2
N/A
N/A
32.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.0
0.9
2007
81
75
0.29
0.37
13.7
13.4
25.8
28.7
0.017
N/A
27.3
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.9
2006
63
74
0.31
0.41
14.0
15.3
19.8
27.7
0.022
N/A
17.3
N/A
N/A
N/A
3.2
0.6
2005
83
76
0.36
0.43
17.4
15.1
22.6
26.0
0.019
N/A
17.8
N/A
N/A
N/A
4.0
0.7
2004
70
77
0.43
0.49
15.0
15.6
N/A
25.6
0.014
N/A
14.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
3.7
1.2
2003
86
81
0.40
0.57
18.5
17.2
N/A
27.1
0.013
N/A
19.2
N/A
N/A
N/A
4.8
1.2
2002
88
76
0.36
0.56
18.3
16.9
N/A
26.8
0.019
N/A
19.9
N/A
N/A
N/A
4.3
1.0
2001
83
70
0.36
0.55
19.0
16.4
N/A
26.1
0.020
N/A
23.2
N/A
N/A
N/A
4.4
0.8
2000
71
78
0.35
0.50
18.2
16.7
N/A
26.4
0.027
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
5.2
2.3
Natural disasters
Type
Detroit
Tucson
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
128.5%
8.9%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
53.2%
1,584.9%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
14%
13%
Transportation
Detroit has a mix of buses, trams, and a people mover for public transportation. Tucson residents can use the Sun Tran bus service or the modern streetcar that connects downtown with the university area. Commute times in both cities are close to the national average.
Transport
Type
Detroit
Tucson
Amtrak stations
1
1
Amtrak stations nearby
3
1
FAA registered aircraft
93
983
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
3
14
Means of transportation to work
Type
Detroit
Tucson
Bicycle
0.5%
1%
Bus
4%
1.9%
Carpooled
7.5%
11.5%
Car alone
83.4%
81.9%
Motorcycle
0%
0.5%
Taxicab
0.5%
0.1%
Walked
2.7%
2.3%
Average travel time to work
Type
Detroit
Tucson
Average
30.6 min
26 min
Other means
26 min
21.6 min
Public transportation
47.7 min
42.5 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
Detroit
Tucson
Average
1.2
1.2
Drove alone
87.1%
86.3%
In 2 person carpool
10.5%
10.1%
In 3 person carpool
1%
2.5%
In 4 person carpool
1%
1%
In 5-6 person carpool
0.3%
0.1%
In 7+ person carpool
0.2%
0.1%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Real estate in Detroit can be surprisingly affordable, with many options for both renters and buyers. Tucson's real estate market is more competitive, driving up the prices but also increasing property values.
Neighborhoods
Both cities offer diverse neighborhoods. In Detroit, popular neighborhoods include Midtown, Woodbridge, and Corktown. Those seeking a historic vibe may consider Tucson's Barrio Historico, or for a suburban feel, Oro Valley is a good choice.
Houses and residents
Type
Detroit
Tucson
Houses
322,906
242,816
Average household size (people)
2.6
2.4
Median year apartment built
1953
1979
Median year house/condo built
1946
1978
Length of stay in the house since moving in
16.7 years
13.2 years
Houses occupied
251,729 (78%)
223,068 (91.9%)
Houses occupied by owners
129,084 (51.3%)
114,708 (51.4%)
Houses occupied by renters
122,645 (48.7%)
108,360 (48.6%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$798.06
$801.80
Median monthly housing costs
$755
$951
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$86,452
$557,132
Estimated median house or condo value
$69,300
$224,800
Median numbers of rooms
5.7
4.9
Median number of rooms in apartments
5
4
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.3
5.8
Median house price - detached houses
$96,752
$262,219
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
$72,631
$147,793
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$183,952
$125,313
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$242,851
$135,055
Median house price - mobile homes
$43,864
$48,136
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$128,652
$210,375
Median house price - All housing units
$101,554
$234,849
Median house age
74
43
Renting percentage
48.9%
48.1%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
2,326.9
1,247.3
House value disparities
48.4%
32.8%
Household income disparities
49.3%
44.9%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$61,259
$76,356
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$38,901
$54,612
Housing units without a mortgage
2,599 (5.6%)
1,087 (1.5%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
2,270 (4.9%)
2,785 (3.9%)
Housing units with a mortgage
43,675 (94.4%)
70,054 (98.5%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
357 (0.8%)
211 (0.3%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
3,466 (7.5%)
4,051 (5.7%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
16
11
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
4
1
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
17.1%
1.2%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
13.6%
0.8%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
Detroit
Tucson
One, detached
66.0%
53.5%
One, attached
6.1%
8.3%
Two
6.5%
2.5%
3 or 4
2.7%
4.3%
5 to 9
2.2%
5.0%
10 to 19
2.7%
5.6%
20 to 49
3.9%
5.8%
50 or more
9.4%
8.6%
Mobile homes
0.5%
6.2%
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.
0.0%
0.2%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
11,725
14,487
State government workers
8,763
17,981
Unpaid family workers
441
709
Industries and Occupations
In Detroit, the most prominent industries include automotive, healthcare, and technology. In Tucson, industries are diverse, with aerospace & defense, bioscience & healthcare, and education leading the pack.
Both cities have excellent healthcare facilities. Detroit's healthcare is dominated by the Detroit Medical Center. Tucson has the Banner-University Medical Center, rated one of the best hospitals in Arizona.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Detroit
Tucson
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Detroit has experienced infrastructural changes as revitalization efforts continue downtown and in the midtown areas. Tucson shows steady growth with new commercial and residential projects upsurge citywide, including a modern streetcar system.
Infrastructure
Type
Detroit
Tucson
Hospitals
41
24
TV stations
16
20
Arenas or stadiums
4
2
Bank branches located here
98
159
Bank institutions located here
12
17
Main business address for public companies
11
6
Drinking water stations with no reported violations in the past
5
0
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
Detroit
Tucson
1999
2,901
3,131
2000
4,079
1,601
2001
3,815
912
2002
3,247
778
2003
5,511
1,409
2004
9,068
2,041
2005
13,958
2,872
2006
16,654
2,833
2007
10,742
1,601
2008
2,823
714
2009
484
386
Culture and Food
Detroit's food scene is influenced by its diverse population, offering everything from soul food to Middle Eastern cuisine. Tucson was named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, reflecting its Native American, Mexican, and pioneer culinary heritage. Both cities have rich cultural scenes, with Detroit known for its music and Tucson for its Southwest art and culture.
Sports Teams
Detroit hosts teams from four major sports leagues – the Lions (NFL), Tigers (MLB), Pistons (NBA), and Red Wings (NHL). Tucson doesn't have any major league teams but does offer collegiate sports from the University of Arizona.
Detroit, MI
Tucson, AZ
